Patent GB-663131-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to pressing or ironing machines
IPC: D06F77/00
Filed: 1949-08-09
Abstract: 663,131. Ironing-machines. HAVERKATE, G. H. Aug. 9, 1949, No. 20713/49. Class 138 (ii). In a pressing or ironing-machine comprising a vertically movable iron 8 adapted to be moved horizontally by hand, the pressing or ironing pressure is supplied by a pressure fluid under the control of a control member 13 moving with the iron and arranged near the hand grip 9 thereof. The member 13 may also control the supply of steam for steaming the work. The iron 8 is carried by a rod 7 which is slidable in a rollerguide 6 carried by a shaft 3 which is rotatably and vertically slidably mounted in a column 2. The shaft 3 is connected through a universal joint 4 to a lever or pedal 5 which is pressed downwardly against the action of a spring 10, by means of a piston 58, when fluid under pressure is admitted to a cylinder 55, the iron 8 being simultaneously pressed against a pressing-plate 11. The control member 13 carries an arm 30 connected by a Bowden cable 33 to a valve 43 in a casing 40 which controls the supply of fluid through conduits 44, 50 and 54 to the cylinder 55. As shown in Fig. 4, the cable 33 is connected to one arm of a lever 38 pivoted at 39, the other arm of lever 38 being pressed against a valve lifter 49 by an adjustable spring 41. The valve 43 is normally closed by the pressure of fluid entering the valve casing 40 through conduit 44 and the strength of spring 41 is adjusted to be just insufficient to overcome this pressure. In order to open the valve, only the difference between these pressures has to be supplied by hand. An auxiliary valve 46 is connected to the main valve 43 by a rod 43a, so that when valve 43 is closed, valve 46 is moved away from its seat and an outlet 48 to the atmosphere is opened. Conduits 50 and 54 are joined through a spring-loaded non-return valve 51 having a bleeder tap 53 and through a byepass 56 bridging valve 51 and containing a stop-valve 57. Conduit 54 is joined by a conduit 59, through a second non-return valve 60 having a bleeder tap and byepass, to a second pressure-fluid cylinder 61, the piston 62 of which operates a vacuum control valve 64 by means of a lever 63. Valve 64 is arranged in a vacuum conduit 29 through which steam can be withdrawn from the plate 11. As shown in Fig. 2, movement of the lever 13 towards the grip 9 also results in the partial withdrawal of a plunger 16 from a cylinder 17 mounted in the iron 8. The cylinder 17 has a port 18 opening into a U-shaped chamber 19, Fig. 3 (not shown), one leg of which is connected to a steam supply conduit and the other to a steam discharge conduit. The cylinder 17 also contains two or more transverse ports 22 opening into an annular passage 23 connected by a conduit 24 to a space 25 having a plurality of steam discharge passages 26. Operation.-The pressing iron is first placed over the part to be pressed and then by operating the member 13, valve 46 is opened and fluid under pressure is admitted through conduits 44, 50 and 54 to cylinder 55. The iron 8 is thus brought down abruptly on to the work. Simultaneously the member 13 frees the inlet port 18 in the cylinder 17 and steam passes through passages 26 on to the work. Fluid under pressure is also admitted, through conduit 59, to cylinder 62 so that steam is withdrawn from the work by suction. If the stop valve 57 is open, the pressure on the iron is released as soon as the member 13 is released, the spring 10 forcing the fluid from the cylinder 55 out through the conduits 54, 56 and 50 and the outlet 48. By operating with the valve 57 closed the release of the iron is retarded, the fluid being allowed to escape slowly through the adjustable tap 48. The member 13 may therefore be released as soon as the work has been sufficiently steamed. In a similar way by closing the byepass associated with the second non-return valve 60, fluid is released slowly from the cylinder 61 and evacuation of steam through passages in the plate 11 will continue for some time after the valve 43 is closed. The machine may be operated by foot by turning down a hinged portion 65 of the pedal into the position shown in Fig. 1 and by disconnecting the Bowden wire.